"Lost love, murder and a mysterious ring with magical qualities make this story a winner."

Noted paleontologist Christine Sommers believes her peers
will disregard her gender and give her the position of team
leader on the next dig. Instead, they bypass her,
relegating her to teaching young women with no prospects.
Christine has no time to mourn her loss when she receives
another enticing proposition from Erik Boughton, the Duke
of Sedgwick. She and Erik share a past history as lovers
who were too young and too foolish. Now Erik offers her a
chance to prove her theory with a dig on his Scottish
property.

The world has not been kind to Erik. He lost his first wife
to scarlet fever after only two weeks of marriage. His
second wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances that
made him the prime suspect in her death. But there was no
proof of his guilt. The infamous Sedgwick curse has people
believing Erik will die soon, leaving no heir. Erik takes
one look at Christine and old memories swamp him. He offers
her the chance to find answers in her professional quest.
The only requirement is she must wed him.

Christine gives Erik different perspectives on old and new
situations. She challenges him on his unwillingness to
involve his heart in all aspects of his life. Christine was
never predictable and that has not changed. Vulnerabilities
are exposed and sacrifices must be made if they can have
any future together.

Ms. Thomas's books are always a treat! They always surprise
me by taking me into unexpected places with unusual
characters who capture my imagination. BEAUTY AND THE DUKE
is no exception. Ms. Thomas delves into paleontology, lost
love, murder and a mysterious ring with magical qualities.
Readers will add another Melody Thomas novel to
their keeper shelf.

SUMMARY

The face he shows the world is not the face she sees. . .

Once, ten years ago, they were young lovers,
sharing sinful touches and desperate ecstasy. But he was
bound by his promise to wed another. Since that fateful
time, Christine Sommers has grown into a headstrong
beauty, the kind of woman who thinks nothing of daring
travels to the ends of the world. But for all her
achievements, Christine has never found anyone who makes
her heart race the way Erik Boughton once did.

Since that fateful time, Erik Boughton, the Duke of
Sedgwick, has become something of a beast, at least
according to the gossips of the ton. They say that he's
cursed, that any woman who shares his bed will meet an
untimely end. But when he comes to Christine, desperate
for her help to preserve his family and his title, she
does not fear the devil duke. Enthralled by his ravenous
desire, she would give him anything he wished, even her
body . . . and her heart.